Fall 2018 Programs

Each year, the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom (CSRF) sponsors educational initiatives that both engage the campus community and reach beyond the University to invite the larger public into its ongoing exploration of religious freedom. Many programs are arranged in partnership with local organizations and faith communities, among them are interfaith dialogue, semester-long symposia, town hall discussions, and guest speakers.

Speakers’ perspectives are intended to invite civil discussion and dialogue, but don’t necessarily reflect the policy or position of Virginia Wesleyan University. Please join us for these special opportunities to build bridges of understanding between people of different worldviews.

All CSRF events are free, open to the public, and are held on the VWU campus unless otherwise noted.

Wonder Woman Series

When William Moulton Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman, had the idea for a new kind of superhero – one who triumphed not with fire and fury, but with love – it was his wife Elizabeth who suggested that it be a woman. Wonder Woman made her comic book debut in 1941 as a member of the Justice League. She was not the first female superhero. She was, however, the first non-violent one. She was at once a warrior with god-like strength and a humanitarian who preferred peace and love to war and violence.

American Evolution Series

When women in the United States were not allowed to vote, when poll taxes were used to discriminate, and when civil wrongs needed to be righted, individual women entered public life as agents of social change.

Human sexuality has posed a range of challenges for all religious traditions. Through panel presentation and small group dialogue, this series explores challenges related to gender roles and gender identity that face religious institutions and individuals.

One Love Festival/Town Hall

The One Love Festival was conceived as a snapshot of what a state of world peace would look like, even if it existed only for one day. The festival brings a kaleidoscope of people together to celebrate a peace that transcends our differences.

Life Matters Series

In “Life Matters,” members of the Wesleyan community offer autobiographical reflections on their emotional, intellectual, and spiritual experiences. These deeply personal talks create meaningful opportunities for greater understanding and connection, encouraging each of us to think about what has shaped us and given our own life meaning. The series is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL), and the Chaplain’s Office at Virginia Wesleyan University.

CSRF in the Community

In anticipation of the 2018 elections, and in hoping to encourage broader participation in the arts and in civil society, the Chrysler Museum of Art presents a series of Gallery Talks inspired by Norman Rockwell's 1941 Four Freedoms paintings.

Workshop for VWU Students

Throughout the last 25 years, the witty illustrations of Hanoch Piven have appeared in most major American magazines and newspapers, and in many European publications. Piven lectures extensively about creativity and its application to various aspects of life, and conducts workshops for children and adults alike. His workshops allow participants to easily experience a creative process and enable introspection and communication through the creation of a collage with common objects. In this workshop on identity, VWU students deal with the question, “what are we made of?” as they consider the different values, experiences, and emotions that make us the individuals that we are. Please see his work at www.pivenworld.com, and watch “Living in a Playful Collage: Hanoch Piven at TEDxJerusalem.”